Churchill's personal life. Why did Churchill's wife always talk about the Soviet Red Cross?

Churchill Winston

(born 1874 - died 1965)

The English Prime Minister who found happiness with one woman.

You can have different attitudes towards the successes and failures of an outstanding personality. But, as you know, only time puts everything in its place. Sir Winston Churchill earned a reputation during his lifetime as one of the most famous people XX century, however, over the years his fame as a great statesman increased a hundredfold. He was not only an intelligent and subtle politician - England knew few worthy prime ministers! This man was far ahead of his time than any of his predecessors. Not everyone, for example, knows that Churchill was a tank designer and one of the first to realize the importance of aviation, back in the 1930s. showed interest in rockets. On his orders, the pilots began scattering aluminum foil to confuse the German radars. He expressed the idea of creating a pipeline under the Atlantic Ocean and invented a navigation device for pilots. He was also the highest paid journalist of his time, an outstanding artist, a laureate Nobel Prize according to literature, a man who won two world wars.

Churchill's personal life was just as unique. He lived with his wife Clementine for 57 years and even into his nineties he still called her “pussy.” He always loved her - both in times of ups and in times of downs. And Clementine valued this love like no other woman, always remaining faithful and devoted to her “pug,” as she affectionately called her husband.

Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill was born into the aristocratic English family of Lord Randolph Churchill, the second son of the Duke of Marlborough and the black-eyed beauty, daughter of the American millionaire Jenny Jerome. Young Winston studied in one of the most expensive and fashionable closed educational institutions kingdom of england- at St. George's School. I studied, but it doesn’t matter. He constantly received bad grades and, as a result, another portion of rods, despite his noble origin. Mastering the sciences continued at Brighton school, and upon reaching adulthood, Winston entered Sandhurst Military School only on the third attempt, preferring salons, clubs or university. By the way, not many young men even from aristocratic families managed to get into this school.

In February 1895, Second Lieutenant Winston Churchill was appointed to the 4th Hussars - one of the most brilliant in the British army. The young officer knew how to please girls, although he himself did not experience serious love addictions. With the exception of one case when he was overtaken, as they say, by love at first sight. In November 1896, 22-year-old Winston fell madly in love with Pamela Plowden, the daughter of a high-ranking official. This young lady was seven months older than her admirer. Independent, slender, attractive, she turned the heads of all young military men. Churchill persuaded her to take a ride around the city and received an invitation to dinner. Brief novel ended with an engagement.

However military career was much more important for an ambitious officer than courting his bride. And here Winston showed incredible persistence and desire to take his rightful place in English society. To begin with, he took part in the Boer War as a war correspondent. There he was captured, but escaped, showing miracles of courage and ingenuity during his escape. Churchill returned to his homeland as a real hero. In addition, literary success awaited Winston. In 1898, his first book, “The Malacan Field Army,” was published, and a year later, a second documentary narrative entitled “The River War” appeared. Both books were highly appreciated by the reading public, and the first editions were sold out instantly.

It turned out well and political career, which began with the election of 25-year-old Churchill as a member of parliament. But in his personal life, everything was not going well for Winston, who dreamed of getting married. In 1902, Pamela Plowden, to whom he was officially engaged, married Earl Victor Lytton. Having informed Churchill of her intention, Pamela invited him to remain good friends. The ex-fiancé endured his defeat stoically.

The next step is a marriage proposal to the charming and talented English actress Miss Ethel Barrymore. And although Ethel had tender feelings for the contender for her hand, she did not dare to enter the dangerous political stage with Winston.

And finally, another refusal. This time Churchill was rejected by Muriel Wilson, the heiress of a wealthy shipowner. There were rumors about another possible union of Winston - with the daughter of Transvaal Prime Minister Louis Botha, 19-year-old Helen. But things didn’t go further than rumors.

Actually, there is nothing mysterious in all Churchill’s love failures. For one reason only - he was never a tireless conqueror of women's hearts. As if anticipating his fate as a great politician, he wanted one thing - stability and constancy. Churchill found them with a woman whom Providence itself had probably prepared for him and whose charm he could not resist from the moment of their first meeting. This was 23-year-old Clementine Hozier, whose mother Lady Blanche came from the family of the Earls of Airlie. Before this, the young people had already met, and at first Churchill did not make much of an impression on Clementine due to the fact that, for some reason, he was embarrassed when communicating with women and, apparently, to hide his embarrassment, he behaved rather boastfully. But Clementine’s mother saw in Winston, a promising politician and talented writer, a profitable match for her daughter. But the main thing is that 33-year-old Churchill himself had long believed that at his age it was time to settle down and have a family, especially since by that time he had already served as Minister of Trade.

During subsequent meetings, Winston showed much greater wit and resourcefulness in his conversations with the graceful blonde and finally made the impression he had hoped for. In August 1908, Churchill proposed to Clementine Hozier, and a month later they were married. The ceremony took place at the parish church of the House of Commons of Westminster in St Margaret's. And the wedding reception was held at beautiful building in Portland Place, given to the bride by her aunt Lady St. Helier. Among the gifts was a cane from King Edward VII, engraved in gold: "To my youngest minister." The Times newspaper appreciated the bride's wedding attire, but the men's fashion magazine was not so kind to the groom, noting that the poorly tailored suit made him look like a “dressed up coachman.”

However, Winston paid little attention to the press’s petty jabs. He enjoyed his honeymoon in Venice. It was then that the happy newlywed wrote the phrase that later became famous: “I find making love a serious and delightfully enjoyable matter.” Moreover, he reported this not to just anyone, but to his own mother-in-law.

Clementine returned to England already pregnant. And, like all young wives, she began to arrange her family life. Winston was delighted with the energy of his young wife, but at the same time he was somewhat embarrassed by the meticulous prudence of Clementine, who began to keep strict records of all expenses of the family budget. Being a bachelor, Churchill did not deny himself anything. It was a different matter now, when it was necessary to support a family. And since Churchill, unlike most other English politicians, did not have a large personal fortune, he had to be content with a ministerial salary and literary royalties. True, with all the savings, food expenses were not limited. Winston was a gourmet and would never turn down delicacies. Champagne and brandy, which were required to be served during meals, had to be best brands Therefore, they were very expensive. Clementine complained to her friends that she was losing her appetite, estimating the cost of their feasts.

The newlyweds had to adapt to each other not only in financial matters. Churchill was a night owl by nature, accustomed to going to bed late and waking up late. Clementine, on the other hand, was a morning person. And all her attempts to establish a normal regime for her husband were crowned with failure. Therefore, the couple had breakfast separately, and a year later they decided to have separate bedrooms. And since Churchill often stayed late at work, his wife began the custom of leaving him notes from which he found out whether his husband was waiting for him in the bedroom that day or whether he would have to sleep alone.

Her husband's frequent absences on official business sometimes aroused Clementine's suspicions of infidelity. Winston, who was much more interested in politics than in women, was naturally offended. He could not understand what caused his wife’s doubts. And once again he convinced Clementine to believe him, repeating that he would never love any other woman.

Indeed, Clementine always remained one and only for Churchill. Thoughts about love affair with other women simply never crossed his mind. Although sometimes he sometimes flirted with pretty girls. And there were fans too. Like Maxine Ellyont, a wealthy American actress whose castle in Cannes was open to all celebrities. The Churchill spouses often visited there. Maxine Ellyont became so seriously interested in Winston that she even earned caustic remarks from respectable society. Although he saw her as nothing more than just an acquaintance. What really fascinated Churchill was the casino. With a cigar in his mouth and a glass of cognac in his hand, he played with pleasure until late at night. And he was no less proud of his gambling winnings than of his political successes.

By the way, Churchill’s absolute fidelity to his wife throughout his life was never questioned by any of his biographers or memoirists. He generally treated women a little condescendingly. And he never missed an opportunity to respond with barb to barb. So, one day he found himself at the same table next to an elderly lady who loudly told him: “You are so unpleasant that if I were your wife, I would pour poison into your glass of wine.” For what

Churchill responded just as loudly: “Madam, you are so terrible that if I were your husband, I would certainly drink this poison.”

As for Clementine, she adored her “pug.” And of course, she did not think about betrayal, causing even bewilderment among some of her friends with her fidelity. One of them, in a private conversation, unequivocally told Clementine that if she wanted to contribute to her husband’s career, she should take herself a rich and influential lover. When Clementine, indignant, responded with a sharp refusal, her interlocutor exclaimed: “Darling! You are too selfish."

In July 1909, Clementine gave birth to her first daughter, who was named Diana. Then a son, Randolph, and three more daughters were born - Sarah, Marigold and Mary.

Despite the abundance of family responsibilities, Lady Churchill also found time for social activities. In particular, during the First World War, she managed canteens at several London military factories and was even awarded a government award for this.

Churchill's political career was also developing rapidly at this time, which, in addition to increasing worries, also brought good dividends. Having become First Lord of the Admiralty, Winston received at his disposal a luxurious yacht, second in size and decoration only to a royal one. The thrifty Clementine was also pleased that the yacht’s stock of fine wines and provisions was constantly replenished at the expense of the treasury, and she, as a hospitable hostess, could properly receive friends and acquaintances without spending her own money.

By the way, Churchill also showed himself to be a brilliant lawyer. In 1911 he masterfully carried out trial, which put an end to rumors that King George V, before his marriage to Princess May of Teck, secretly married the daughter of an admiral in Malta, that is, he was a bigamist. These accusations were published in the Paris newspaper Liberator. Their author, a certain Edward F. Milius, sent copies of the article to all members of parliament, after which Churchill, with the consent of George V, began a process against Milius, during which he proved that neither the king nor his intended bride were in Malta at the specified time. The journalist was found guilty and sentenced to a year in prison, and Churchill earned the king's personal gratitude.

However, there were also plenty of problems. The suffragettes alone frayed Churchill’s nerves! He was a favorite target for them because he opposed legislation that would expand the electorate, including giving women the right to vote. Militant ladies pursued him throughout the country. And although Churchill took their attacks with humor, they sometimes went too far. So, one day at the station in Briston, a certain Teresa Garnett rushed at him with a whip. One of the blows hit Winston in the face. Then threats rained down on Churchill's loved ones. It even got to the point where the police uncovered a plot to kidnap Randolph's son. I had to hire security for nannies and children.

Clementine was also very worried about Churchill’s dangerous passion for aviation. He could not resist the temptation and learned to fly an airplane, sometimes taking to the air ten times a day. It cannot be said that he had a natural talent as a pilot. Therefore, young pilots who did not want to risk their careers had to fly with an inexperienced aviator who had a slow reaction. To their understandable restraint were added the pleas of Clementine and the persuasion of friends, appealing to the prudence of the desperate pilot. But the stubborn Churchill gave up only when he survived several serious accidents and miraculously survived. Only after this did he sadly admit that the air element was not for him.

The First made its own adjustments to a happy family life World War. In 1915, Churchill was blamed for the failure military operation in the Dardanelles. After resigning, he went to active army. The King's personal advisor, First Lord of the Admiralty, member of His Majesty's Government became a simple major and was seconded to the 2nd Battalion of Guards Grenade Launchers. Almost two years (that’s how long Churchill was at the front) loving wife I literally went crazy with worry for my husband.

In general, this couple adequately endured both the joys and sorrows that befell them. 1921 was especially difficult for them. The couple had to endure three terrible losses. In April, Clementine's brother, Bill Hozier, who led her to the altar during the wedding, died. For an unknown reason, he committed suicide. On June 29, under tragic circumstances, Winston’s mother, Jenny, whom he literally idolized, calling “a fairy, emitting light like a star." While walking down the stairs in very high heels, she slipped and broke her ankle. Gangrene set in and the leg had to be amputated above the knee. Just as things were getting better, the wound suddenly opened and Jenny died from loss of blood. And finally, in August, the three-year-old died youngest daughter, Marigold, everyone's favorite.

The grief of loss was brightened by the birth of his daughter Mary in September 1922. Of course, she could not replace dear Marigold, but her appearance brought great joy to the family. Life gradually returned to normal. In 1924, Churchill returned to parliament and headed the Treasury. And this was the beginning of his ascent. He left and returned more than once, gradually becoming that Churchill, without whom no history textbook will ever be without - a tough, cunning, intelligent politician, to whose genius England owes the fact that it paid so little for participation in the Second World War, in comparison with other countries, price (Churchill became prime minister in 1940).

Over the next 30 years, the figure of Churchill was more significant for England than even the figures of monarchs and members royal family. And since top models and pop stars did not yet exist at that time, it is not surprising that the Churchills were the most famous couple in England. At the same time, Clementine could not be called a trendsetter. She dressed, however, always with taste and refinement. But she tried to spend as little money on toilets as possible, so she sewed her clothes in simple ateliers, only occasionally allowing her to order toilets from famous couturiers. Nevertheless, she still made her contribution to fashion: it was in imitation of her that English women began to wear turbans made of colored scarves. Clementine never abused the services of beauty salons, doing only permanent curls there. But her recipe for strengthening hair did not seem worthy of use to anyone: she periodically washed her hair with pure gasoline, assuring that it was extremely useful.

Over the years, the marital bond became stronger. They could no longer imagine life without each other, despite the fact that they often rested separately. Churchill liked the south of France, Italy, Monte Carlo. He was interested in hunting, playing polo, everything free time devoted himself to painting. Crementina preferred English resorts. She considered visiting museums, exhibitions, and theaters to be real relaxation, which Churchill could not stand. She was a good athlete and was fond of tennis, which she played until her old age.

The only cloud on their clear family horizon appeared in 1935, when the sensitive Clementine, traveling on the yacht Rosaura along the islands of Indonesia, became infatuated with the charming art sales agent Terence Philip. But this connection quickly ceased; at least the all-knowing press, no matter how hard it tried, was unable to find out the juicy details.

Churchill realized that life exists outside of politics when he acquired the ancient Chartwell estate. Built during the time of Henry VII, the house offered a magnificent view worthy of an artist's brush. However, there was a lot of work to be done: the beams were eaten away by worms, everything around was overgrown. With his usual passion, Winston took up the development of Chartwell. He cut down and burned the bushes, cleaned the pond, and laid the bricks himself. He was full of grandiose plans, and if there was any daredevil who was ready to stay with them for the weekend, Winston immediately included him in the “special brigade” to “liquidate” the bushes. Clementine, who understood perfectly well what a huge job it was to turn Chartwell into a cozy nest, courageously performed the most thankless task. Although, of course, I would prefer to spend Sundays playing tennis. And the children also had a hand in the revival of the house.

Years later, the completely restored Chartwell opened its doors to the public. And until now, the flow of visitors does not dry up on open days. They come to see the famous builder at work, the black swans and other birds swimming in the pond that Churchill himself dug, and his beloved goldfish scurrying around in the pool.

In April 1955, after the whole of England solemnly celebrated Churchill's 80th birthday, the great politician resigned as prime minister. On this occasion, a magnificent reception was held at the residence of the head of government on April 5. Queen Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh arrived for dinner. The Queen appeared in a magnificent dress, sparkling with beautiful diamonds. Churchill put on all his awards. At the end of the reception, gallant as always, Churchill came out to hold the door of the royal car. The next morning he assembled his cabinet for the last time, had tea with members of his team and left for Chartwell. His tenure in power ended in the best English traditions.

Selfless and patient Clementine was happy - her husband now belonged only to her. But she rejoiced prematurely. Five years later, her husband announced that he did not intend to quit politics and expected to be re-elected to the House of Commons. And although Sir Winston spent more time in the south of France, he was nevertheless nominated as a candidate. Clementine lamented - this was already the fifteenth election, she had had enough! But Churchill did not part with politics until his death. He last attended a meeting of the House of Commons on July 28, 1964, already seriously ill. Clementine did not allow her husband to attend the farewell ceremony with the parliamentarians, because she understood that it would cause him too much emotion.

IN last years Throughout his life, Churchill was sick a lot, and sometimes Clementine did not leave his bed for days. The last time the British saw this wonderful couple was on November 30, 1964. The smiling couple looked out of the window of the house at the crowd that had gathered to greet their idol.

Winston Churchill died on January 24, 1965. After his death, Clementine quietly lived out her life in London. Queen Elizabeth II granted her a life peerage, and Baroness Spencer-Churchill of Chartwell occasionally visited the House of Lords. True, she did not take part in the voting, because due to deafness she could not follow the debate.

Clementine lived to see the day when all of England celebrated the 100th anniversary of Churchill's birth in November 1974. That day she visited her husband’s grave and said quietly: “I hope I don’t have long to wait to meet you…”

Clementine survived her husband by twelve years, dying at the age of 92.

Such was this amazing couple. She appeared in an even more romantic form before the prim British when time and humanity brought Winston Churchill into the ranks greatest politicians XX century. A worthy place in history was found for his, albeit not the only, but such a beautiful and unchanging love.

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How can you not get bored of your husband after half a century?

“My marriage was the happiest and most joyful event of my entire life”
W. Churchill

The love story of W. Churchill and Clementine Hozier is a confirmation of the old truth that
that opposites attract, and with such force that even death cannot separate them.
Their marriage lasted 57 years, lived in love, understanding and complete trust in each other.
There was, perhaps, no more popular and weighty politician in the foreign history of the twentieth century,
than Winston Spencer Churchill. From the family of the Dukes of Marlborough, a participant in the Anglo-Boer and World War II
wars, he accomplished a lot and did a lot, and not only for Great Britain. Volumes have been written about him,
and he himself told a lot about himself. But today we are not talking about him, or rather not only about him.
I wonder what kind of woman was next to him for fifty-seven years?
What kind of person was his wife Clementine Churchill, née Heusier, who came from
from the noble Scottish family of Airlie?

She was born on April 1, 1885 and was 11 years younger than Winston.
When they got married she was 23 and Churchill was 34.
Clementine spoke German fluently and French, had a sharp mind and a subtle sense of humor, and was interested in politics. The family was not rich, and Clementine gave French lessons.
But at 23 years old, the girl was also picky; she was in no hurry to get married, ruining three engagements. Winston was one of those people whose shortcomings were immediately visible, but whose virtues were discovered a little later. And although life experience he was already rich, with women Winston was a bear to a bear:
no beautiful courtship for you, no compliments for you. He was, first of all, a warrior and
too straightforward to be considered a gentleman.
Moreover, the young lord was accustomed to bachelor life and didn’t want to part with her.
Therefore, having finally decided to get married, over the past two years he received three refusals to his proposals.
In addition, the brides understood that the main woman for the applicant would be Her Majesty - Politics.
In general, they could not discern an excellent match in the wayward and vain gentleman.
But heaven decreed that they met: Winston and Clementine!
It turns out that fate had already brought them together four years ago at the same ball,
but since Churchill did not yet know how to dance, the beauty was taken away from him by a nimble gentleman.

They met at a London ball at Crewe House. Churchill behaved extremely constrained -
barely looked at 19-year-old Clementine and didn’t say a word. She didn’t even invite her to dance.
Then she accepted another gentleman’s invitation to dance.
This was the end of the first meeting between Winston and Clemmie.
Their paths diverged, only to meet again four years later.
Needless to say, even now he was not eager to go to the ball
(after all, among other things, there will also be dancing, which he could not stand).
The second meeting took place at a dinner party at Aunt Clementine's. It should be noted that this time too
neither Clemmie nor Winston intended to appear. But Fate is a stubborn thing:
despite the fact that Miss Hozier did not have a single decent dress and, moreover, for a long time she could not find
his ball gloves, and the young lord would never have come to this dinner if not for his secretary
Eddie Marsh, but in the end everything worked out well...

Already in August of the same year, he proposed to Clementine. The groom was very
extravagant and unique, and therefore Clementine almost refused again!
But still, on August 15, 1908, Deputy Minister Churchill announced his wedding.
High society issued a summary: this marriage will last six months, no more, and the marriage will fall apart because
that Churchill was not created for family life.
But it turned out differently: they lived 57 years in love and fidelity.

Roy Jenkins wrote: “It is simply phenomenal that Winston and Clementine - these offspring of flighty ladies -
created one of the most famous marriages in world history, famous for its happiness,
and with your loyalty."

Churchill's biographers write that he was often lucky, but most of all he was lucky with his wife!
And family life began. They were complete opposites each other, and that is what is theirs
connected. She became the only person who could control the hot-tempered
Churchill's character. In her presence he was transformed.
What did he do: wrote books, learned to fly an airplane, spent all night long
in the casino, losing and winning back fortunes, he led political life countries, drank
an excessive amount of whiskey, smoked Havana cigars endlessly, devoured kilograms of food!

But Clementine did not try to curb her husband, correct his shortcomings and remake his character,
as a less intelligent woman would try to do. She accepted him as he was.
The uncompromising and stubborn politician became a meek young man near his wife. And she became for
his comrade-in-arms, first adviser and true friend. It was not easy for her with him, but she was never bored.
Churchill talked a lot, never listening or even hearing anyone. She found a great way
communication with him. The wife wrote letters to her husband. In total, 1,700 letters and postcards were written. And their youngest
daughter Marie then published these lines of love.
I must also say that the wife was a morning person, and the husband was a night owl. This is partly why they are never together
didn't have breakfast. Churchill once said that having breakfast together is a test that cannot
withstand none family union. They most often vacationed apart: she loved the tropics, and he
preferred extreme sports. One gets the impression that the wise wife did not flicker before her husband’s eyes,
did not reshape him in her own way, but was always there when he wanted it.

Despite his inherent frivolity, he never cheated on his wife. And she was completely absorbed by him.
Clementine was with him until his last day - all 57 years. And in sorrow and in joy. She always showed up alive
interest in what her husband was doing. Clemmie even participated in the creation of Churchill's memoirs,
but not as a writer, but as a critic. They came up with touching nicknames for each other: she called him
Mister Pug is a pug, and he is a cat. They had five children: a son, Randolph and
daughters Diana, Sarah, Marigold and Mary.

And in the house, in fairness it must be said, his calling was heard very often: “Clemmie!”
By the way, they also slept in different bedrooms.
Once, speaking to Oxford students, Clementine said:
“Never force your husbands to agree with you. You will achieve more by continuing calmly.
stick to your convictions, and after some time you will see how your spouse will quietly come to the conclusion
that you are right."
They plunged into crises, became poor and became rich again, but their union was never subjected to
doubt, and their spiritual closeness only grew stronger over the years.
In September 1941, Clementine appealed to the British for support of the USSR:
“We are amazed by the power of the Russian resistance!” From 1941 to 1946, she served as president of the Red Fund
The Russian Relief Cross made the first contribution, and then members of her husband’s government did so.

At first, the Russian Assistance Fund planned to raise 1 million, but managed to raise many times
more: approximately £8 million. No “unliquid goods” or second-hand goods, everything only
high-quality and the most necessary: equipment for hospitals, food, clothing,
prosthetics for the disabled. Just before Clementine’s victory, a whole month and a half, from April 2 to
mid-May, I was in the Soviet Union. She visited many cities - in particular, Leningrad,
Stalingrad, Odessa, Rostov-on-Don. I also visited the house-museum of A.P. Chekhov in Yalta.
Having celebrated Victory Day in Moscow, Clementine spoke on Moscow radio with an open message
Winston Churchill. For her work in helping our country, Clementine was awarded
Order of the Red Banner of Labor. She also met with Stalin, who gave her a gold
a ring with a diamond.
To this day, historians are perplexed why Clementine was in the Soviet Union for so long.
After the war, Winston Churchill published a six-volume work on the Second World War, for which
in 1953 he was awarded the Nobel Prize.
It is likely that Churchill, in order not to sin against the truth, instructed his wife to look at the consequences
war with her own eyes, because Winston trusted no one in his life more than her. She, of course, did not collect facts: others did, but her opinion was always decisive for the Prime Minister.
After her husband's death, Clementine became a member of the House of Lords and a life peer as a Baroness.
Spencer-Churchill-Chartwell. This amazing woman died on December 12, 1977.
having lived 92 years.

newspax.ru Women in history

More about Churchill.

On August 15, 1908, the front pages of British newspapers reported the upcoming marriage of the famous politician Sir Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill and the girl Clementine Ogilvy Hozier. High society was skeptical about this news. Everyone predicted a quick divorce, since, by all accounts, the groom was clearly not suitable for family life. But heaven wanted otherwise. The young people managed to build one of the most famous marriages in the world, living in love and fidelity for fifty-seven years.

Darkened childhood

The future Baroness Clementine Churchill was born on April 1, 1885 in a poor, but very noble family retired British Army officer G.M. Hozier and his wife Lady Blanche Ogilvy. Her childhood was not a joyful one, the reason for this was the problems that interfered with the happiness of her parents.

The fact is that rumor attributed many love affairs to her mother, and evil tongues even claimed that Colonel Hozier was not the real father of her children. Whether this was true or not is unknown, but unable to withstand the pangs of jealousy, he divorced his wife and officially abandoned his children, leaving old family without means of subsistence.

Caring for our daily bread

Of course, his eldest daughter, the future wife of the English Prime Minister Clementine Churchill, also suffered severe moral trauma. The memory of this did not leave her for the rest of her life. Having received an excellent education in childhood and being fluent in several foreign languages, she, the heiress of an ancient aristocratic family, was forced to give French lessons for a piece of bread.

The picky bride

Clementine’s first meeting with her future husband took place in 1908 at an evening party at her aunt’s and, undoubtedly, was nothing more than God’s providence, since both he and she were among the guests completely by chance, having completely different plans for that evening. But everything turned out exactly as heaven wanted.

The news of the wedding surprised many. It should be noted that Clementine, despite her poverty, was a very picky bride and at the age of twenty-three she managed to refuse three enviable suitors for her hand. As for the groom, they said that in life he was only interested in politics, and perhaps also whiskey, Havana cigars, horses and roulette. It is unlikely that with such inclinations one can expect anything worthwhile in future family life.

Marriage celebrations and subsequent everyday life

The wedding took place in September 1908 in London at St. Margaret's Church. It became a real event in social life and was widely covered in the press. In addition to the usual information in such cases, containing a list of high-ranking guests and details of the ceremony, all newspapers noted the extraordinary charm of the bride dressed in white satin dress with a flowing veil and adorned with jewels (a gift from the groom). The newlywed was also noticed, dressed in the latest fashion of the time.

It should be noted that at first the young husband did not deceive the general bad forecasts. It is known that spending his free time from politics in a casino, he managed to lose several times in a short time and regain his own fortune. In addition, despite his addiction to alcohol, he learned to fly an airplane and wrote several books. To top it all off, he turned out to be an incredible gourmet, capable of devouring kilograms of dishes and sitting for hours shrouded in cigar smoke. The charming Clementine Churchill, whose photo from those years is presented at the beginning of the article, faced all this, against her will.

Saving worldly wisdom

But the marriage did not break up. The fact is that she was not only beautiful, but also an intelligent woman. Long before the wedding, there was a rumor about her as an unusually strict and reasonable girl, capable of soberly and balancedly assessing problems. In marriage, these qualities manifested themselves in their entirety.

She did not try to change her husband, much less put pressure on him, but unconditionally accepted what fate sent her. She achieved her goal exclusively with tenderness and affection (learn, young brides). It had an effect. Over time, Clementine became an indispensable friend and ally of Winston, who, in her presence, turned from a stubborn and uncompromising politician into a meek young man. At the same time, she managed to adapt to him in everything.

For example, one of his features was his inability and unwillingness to listen to his interlocutor. This deficiency developed so much that at times Winston physically stopped hearing the person with whom he was communicating. Wise woman found a wonderful way out of the situation: if you don’t want to listen, read, and she bombarded him with her messages.

Later, one thousand seven hundred of them were published by daughter Marie, the last of all the children that Clementine Churchill gave her husband. A biography is a book containing many interesting facts from the life of her mother, saw the light after her death.

A union sealed by spiritual ties

From the memories of people close to them, it is known that Clementine Churchill, remaining in the shadows, always knew how to be there when her husband needed it. Behind long years, spent together, their spiritual union invariably strengthened, despite all the hardships of life that they had to endure, and there were many of them.

Even being on the verge of ruin as a result of certain crises, the spouses did not question their marriage. Surprisingly, Winston, who was very flighty in his previous years, became a husband, completely moved away from his previous habits and never cheated on his wife, who repaid him with mutual fidelity. In his memoirs, written at the end of his life, he frankly said that of all the luck that fate so generously bestowed upon him, undoubtedly the main one was his alliance with Clementine.

They had five children: a son, Randolph, and daughters, Diana, Sarah, Mary, and Marigold, who died at the age of three. By the way, she was Winston’s favorite child, and her death caused him deep moral trauma, which required great mental strength to overcome.

An ally in the fight against common evil

Since the beginning of World War II, Clementine Churchill headed the Red Cross Fund for Assistance to Russia, which she created, which provided invaluable assistance to our country. Thanks to her, eight thousand pounds sterling was collected, which was used to purchase and send food, medicine, clothing and prosthetics to Moscow.

In the spring of 1945, Clementine visited the USSR, where she celebrated Victory Day. Having visited a number of cities, including Leningrad, Odessa, Stalingrad, Rostov-on-Don and Yalta, while in Moscow, she read out on the radio an appeal from her husband Winston Churchill to our people. For outstanding services to the Soviet Union, Stalin awarded her the Order of the Red Banner of Labor and presented her with a gold ring decorated with a large diamond.

Prolonged visit

Clementine Churchill spent a month and a half in the USSR that year. It is very likely that, in addition to her personal interest in the country she was helping, the reason for such a long journey was her husband’s instructions to see as much as possible and tell him his impressions upon his return.

This, of course, was not about espionage - others were doing that, but what was important to him was the subjective opinion that Clementine could form. subsequently wrote and published a six-volume work on the history of the war, and it is likely that, in order to avoid mistakes, he instructed his wife to personally see and describe to him the consequences of the world carnage where they were most noticeable.

Last years of marriage

It is known that, being an unusually witty person, Churchill became the author of many expressions and witticisms, which became popular in his homeland and did not sink into oblivion due to the fact that Clementine collected them in her notes, and today they have acquired an independent life and are often used people who are not even aware of their authorship.

She willingly shared her art of creating long and lasting marital relationships with young women who were just about to start a family. For many of them, Clementine Churchill was the indisputable authority on this issue. “How not to get tired of your husband in half a century” - this was the topic of her repeated speeches before various female audiences, in particular before students of the famous Oxford University. They always carried through them the idea of the harmfulness of trying to impose one’s opinion on a husband, but at the same time recommendations were given on how to bring him, with patience and gentleness, to the realization of his own wrong.

Clementine's dying will

After the death of her husband, which followed on January 24, 1965, Clementine Churchill, whose biography throughout her life was associated with the highest government policy, was awarded the honor of becoming a member and a life peer with the title of Baroness Spencer-Churchill-Chartwell. She ended her amazing life in 1977, at the age of ninety-two.

Having outlived her husband by twelve years, she devoted the last years of her life to publishing memoirs in which she described long haul, passed by them together. She often repeated that life had lost all meaning for her, and she wanted to get to her Winston as soon as possible. After her death, Clementine Churchill's last wish was fulfilled - she was buried in Woodstock Cemetery in Oxfordshire next to her husband. Their children also found their final refuge there.

After five months of courtship, in early August 1908, Churchill invited his beloved Clementine to the family estate of the Dukes of Marlborough at Blenheim Palace. Oddly enough, Clemmie did not share the gentleman's enthusiasm. She assumed that there would be many guests at the castle, and besides, as always, she had nothing to wear. Trying to convince Clementine, Churchill will write to her: “If only you knew how much I want to see you this Monday. I really want to show this to you amazing place. In its beautiful gardens we will find many places where we can retire and discuss everything in the world.” The first letter will be immediately followed by a second, in which Winston will tell his beloved about her “strange and mysterious look,” the secret of which he “can never unravel.”

Ultimately, realizing that Winston was most concerned about a private conversation, and not a magnificent ball at Blenheim Palace, Clementine agreed. Already when the train set off from Paddington Station and, picking up speed, rushed towards Oxford at full steam, she took out a piece of paper, a pen and an inkwell to write a couple of lines to her mother: “I feel terribly timid and very tired.” In fact, she had nothing to be ashamed of. Churchill, waiting for his beloved near the railway station in Oxford, sitting behind the wheel of his new car with driver's glasses on his forehead, was even more nervous.

(Winston Churchill in 1908)

For two days he will drive Clementine around the beautiful surroundings of Oxfordshire, not daring to tell her about the main thing. On the third day, Winston despairs of himself so much that he doesn’t even want to get out of bed. Clementine will patiently wait for him downstairs at the table, drink tea and seriously think about whether she should return back to London. Noticing the slightly distant look of his guest, the Duke of Marlborough immediately went up to his cousin’s bedroom. “Winston! - he said sternly. - Get up immediately and confess your feelings to Clementine today. I’m afraid you won’t have this opportunity again.” Yielding to his arguments, Churchill made one last attempt, taking his beloved to the rose garden.

(Rose garden)

As they slowly walked along the alleys of the rose garden, a thunderstorm broke out in the sky and a heavy downpour began, forcing them to take refuge in the temple of Diana - a small stone gazebo, located on a hill near the lake. They sat in silence for half an hour. The atmosphere was heating up. Clementine glanced down and saw a beetle crawling slowly. It flashed through her head: “If this beetle crawls to the crack, and Winston never proposes to me, then he will never propose to me.” Judging by the further development of events, Churchill turned out to be more agile. In token of upcoming wedding, Winston gave his future bride "the most wonderful ring" with a huge red ruby and two diamonds.

(Temple of Diana, where Winston proposed marriage to Clementine)

The upcoming wedding was scheduled for mid-September. While they decided to keep the solemn event a secret, however, upon returning to the palace, Winston could not restrain himself and told about everything to a close friend F.E. Smith. So soon all of Blenheim knew about the upcoming engagement. That evening, before going to bed, Clemmie wrote a love letter to her groom - a large heart with the words “Winston” inside. For several days, while the future newlyweds were visiting the Duke of Marlborough, all the servants were busy carrying countless letters that the lovers exchanged with each other along the long corridors of Blenheim Palace:

My dear, how are you? I'm sending you mine best love. I just got up, would you like to take a walk with me after breakfast in the rose garden? Always yours, U.

My dear, I'm in in perfect order and with great pleasure I will walk with you in the rose garden. Always yours, Clementine.

Due to the fact that Clementine’s father, Sir Henry Hosier, died a year before the above events, his daughter’s hand had to be asked from Clementine’s mother, Lady Blanch. Addressing his future mother-in-law, Churchill said: “I am neither rich nor very influential, but I love your daughter and consider this feeling strong enough to take upon myself the great and sacred responsibility of caring for her. I believe that I can make her happy by giving her the necessary status and position worthy of her beauty and virtues.”

(Winston and Clementine on vacation)

Mrs. Hozier will approve of Clementine's choice. Sharing the news with her sister-in-law Mabel Airlie, Lady Blanch told her: “Clementine is engaged to Winston Churchill and they are going to get married. It's hard to say which of them is more in love. Knowing Winston's character, I think that he... The whole world has heard about his magnificent mental abilities, but how charming and loving he is in private life.” “Winston is so much like his father,” she will tell the poet Wilfrid Blunt. - He inherited some of his shortcomings and all his virtues. He is gentle, kind and very gentle with those he loves." Her mother would agree with Lady Blanch. Upon learning of her granddaughter's engagement, she exclaims: “Winston loves his mother so much, it seems to me that good sons always become good husbands. Clementine acted wisely. Let her follow him, I won’t object.”

(U .Churchill and Violet Asquith. The latter did not believe in the success of the upcoming marriage)

High society was much less confident in the cloudless happiness of the upcoming marriage. “This union will last six months, no more,” predicted former Prime Minister Earl Rosebery, “the marriage will fall apart, because Churchill is absolutely not created for family life.” Winston's friend Violet Asquith will be even more outspoken. Addressing Clementina's first cousin Veneta Stanley, she admits: “For Winston, a wife is nothing more than an ornament. I completely agree with my father (Prime Minister H. Asquith) that this is a disaster for both of them. Winston doesn’t particularly want - although he needs - a critical wife who can restrain his escapades and stop him from making another mistake in time.” As it will show further development event, negative forecasts turned out to be wrong.

Winston and Clementine Churchill

There are couples, looking at whom you just want to exclaim: here it is, true love! And just such a couple, who went through all the obstacles and difficulties that abound in any marriage, were Winston and Clementine Churchill - a true English lord and lady. They carried mutual love, tenderness, affection and devotion to each other throughout their more than fifty years of marriage.

Winston and Clementine Churchill

They met in the summer of 1904 at one of the aristocratic receptions. Clementine Hozier was nineteen and in the prime of her classic, stately beauty. Winston, who was eleven years older, next to the lily-like girl looked like a trained bear that had escaped from the circus; but he, who never knew how to look after women beautifully, had his own trump cards in his pocket. However, at that memorable reception for both of them, they never got to know each other properly - he was silent and just looked at her without stopping, driving the young girl into blush with his intent and heavy gaze...

They met for the second time only four years later, and again Winston did not prove himself to be an efficient gentleman. However, this time they started dating, and five months later the future Prime Minister of Great Britain decided to introduce Clementine to his relatives. He invited the girl to the family estate of the Dukes of Marlborough, but even there, among the beautiful nature, he could not overcome his constraint, and for all three days he and Clementine did not get closer to each other, as Winston had hoped, but only moved away.

Churchill was in such despair from the realization of the failure of his mission that on the third day of his stay at the estate he did not even want to get out of bed. He sat, frowning gloomily and wrapped in a blanket, and looked at one point. It wasn't any easier for Clementine - this time, next to her was someone she really liked to the point of madness. Before Winston, she had already broken off three engagements and was now waiting for a proposal that would finally make her happy! But instead, she had to drink coffee alone in the dining room and think about what she had done wrong...

The Duke of Marlborough himself saved the situation: he literally pulled his cousin out of bed. Parting with a stern warning: “Winston, if you don’t confess your feelings to her now, then I’m afraid you’ll never have such an opportunity!” Churchill trudged downstairs, where Clementine was in thought: wouldn’t it be better for her to return to London?

Winston invited the girl to see the rose garden, but here the confidence in his eloquence again left him. In addition, a thunderstorm began and they had to take shelter in the gazebo. The chilled lovers sat, waiting out the downpour, and... were silent, although the time and place for the proposal could not have been more suitable. Clementine sadly watched the beetle, which had been crawling along the floor for half an hour, inexorably approaching a crack in the stone floor. “If Winston doesn’t propose to me before this unfortunate bug crawls to the crack,” the girl thought, “he will never do it!”

Churchill nevertheless got ahead of the slow-moving insect, and within five days the beaming lovers announced to their families that they were engaged and that they did not intend to delay the wedding. However, everyone who knew Winston closely was sure that this marriage was destined for a short life: the groom, according to the world, was not created for family ties. Oh, how wrong were all those who predicted the imminent collapse of this union! Winston and Clementine lived in perfect harmony for fifty-seven years, and in his memoirs Churchill will write: “I got married in September 1908 and have lived happily ever since.”

Clementine did not like everything about her husband: Winston would not part with whiskey and cigars, he could spend whole days in the casino, and then just as enthusiastically engage in politics; her husband wrote books and traveled all over the country - but she did not try to criticize his character. Yes, it was not easy for her with him, but she was never bored!

In addition, Clementine did not make the common mistake of many - she did not try to remake her husband in her own way, but simply accepted her beloved as he was, and this was the key to a long life. happy life the Churchill couple. Different in character and taste preferences, they nevertheless got along well. Winston was a typical night owl, and Clementine got up early, so they never had breakfast together. Later, the prime minister, famous for his wit, would say: “Breakfasts together are something that no family unit can stand!”

However, their family boat endured any storm. It is known that Winston Churchill did not accept a single important political decision without consulting your wife - isn’t this a sign of the highest trust between spouses? The wife's keen interest in her husband's concerns was not just an empty phrase - Clementine really delved into all the issues and was interested in every little thing.

It was Clementine who wrote a historic letter to Churchill in 1940, beginning with the words: “You are simply impossible!” In it, she warned her beloved, but stubborn and self-confident husband against the worst thing that could happen to a politician and what almost happened to the all-powerful prime minister: he began to slide into the abyss of authoritarianism, stopped listening to the opinions of others and was critical of himself .

Lady Churchill did not live in the shadow of her famous husband– no, this woman was completely self-sufficient! She personally led many initiatives. In particular, the “Red Cross Fund for Assistance to Russia” worked under her leadership, and largely thanks to Clementine’s talent, the fund collected a simply gigantic amount for those times - about eight million pounds sterling!

All this money, to the last penny, was invested in medicines, clothing, equipment for hospitals, and Clementine Churchill celebrated Victory Day 1945 in Moscow! The Soviet government appreciated the work of the wife of the British Prime Minister and awarded her the Badge of Honor and the Order of the Red Banner of Labor.

In addition to the awards she received in Soviet Russia, Clementine Churchill was also honored in her homeland. In 1965 she received the title Baroness Spencer-Churchill. Moreover, the title was awarded to her herself, and not her famous husband, and thereby recognized her outstanding services both to Great Britain and to numerous international charitable committees and foundations.

Over the years life together the love and amazing loyalty and devotion of these two not only did not fade away, but seemed to flare up more and more. Over the fifty-seven years of their marriage, Winston and Clementine wrote each other about one thousand seven hundred letters, notes, telegrams, and almost every one of these memorable messages contains the lines: “I love you!”, “I miss you,” “I’m waiting for your letters, and I re-read the ones I received over and over again..."

Winston Churchill, whose caustic and apt remarks many were openly afraid of, was so gentle and affectionate with his wife that he literally could not live a day without his Klemma... It is not for nothing that Churchill’s biographers are unanimous in their opinion: Churchill was always very lucky in politics, but most of all he was lucky with my wife. Winston himself once wrote to Clementine: “My greatest success in life was to find you and live with you!”

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